Institute creates visors using its 3D printers
Care settings including hospice benefits from face visors
THE MIRA Technology Institute has created visors for frontline NHS workers to use.
The college outside Hinckley made the items based on a free prototype made available by a group based in Prague.
The headbands were 3D printed while Horiba MIRA used its laser cutting equipment to produce the fully reusable polycarbonate face shields.
MTI staff used sandpaper and hand files to fettle and assemble the visors for bagging and packing.
More than 200 visors have been made and distributed to care settings across the region.
Before formal personal protective equipment (PPE) schemes were set up, leaders of the institute used their network of contacts to find local units in need of equipment and delivered to them directly.
Lisa Bingley, Operations Director at the MTI, said: “We were only planning to make up to 250 initially but we have been successful in sourcing further donations of materials, so we will now make more.
“Donations have been received from our partners and suppliers and we are incredibly grateful for their support.
“It has been a fantastic team effort with some of us working from home and others taking their place in a production line set up here at the MTI.”
Oliver Grimmet, project engineer at Horiba MIRA said: “We noticed people starting to produce PPE including face shields from 3D printer designs that had been shared online.
“The MTI contacted us to see if we could support them with production of the visors and, with our combined capabilities, we were able to go into production.
“I set up the printer to keep going overnight so we were able to keep up production 24 hours a day.
“The headband takes about two hours to print but the plastic face shield only takes a minute with a laser cutter.”
Visors have been delivered to
GP practices, hospices, pharmacies and prisons.
Marion Plant said: “The whole team should be applauded for doing this work, some of it in their own homes, while also keeping students on track during the lockdown period.
“Local hospices and care homes have been so grateful for this additional equipment at what is an exceedingly difficult time across the UK.”
Kevin Harris is chairman of the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership Limited.
He said: “My sincere thanks are offered to MTI for taking quick action to support the national call for PPE.
“Their generous donation of visors to the local ppe4nhs campaign will go a long way to supporting key frontline staff in health care, social care and community support across Leicester and Leicestershire.”
Businesses able to make or donate PPE to support the local need can contact ppe4nhs@hotmail.com.